Chapter 10
Brian
Maria: You sent this basket of muffins?
My face heated when I read her message. The muffins seemed like a good idea at the time. I was flicking through my social media, and an ad for a local bakery promoting their gift basket service popped up. Maria had been playing on my mind, so I thought: what the hell. It was a gesture to let her know I was thinking of her and looking forward to Saturday.
But now I felt like a high schooler sending a candy gram to my crush on Valentine's.
Brian: It's for you and your staff to share.
The dots moved and then faded before starting up again.
Maria: No one has sent me anything at work before.
My brow furrowed.
Brian: Not even for Valentine's or your birthday?
Maria: Nope.
That surprised me. If I had someone of Maria's caliber on my arm, she'd be on a first-name basis with the delivery person. She should have suitors banging down her door. Maybe she was too busy with her business that she didn't have time to date.
Brian: Well, I'm glad I was your first.
"What are you smiling at?"
Harry, one of the roofers I contracted, placed a coffee in front of me before turning a chair around and parking himself on it. I was so engrossed in my messages to Maria that I didn't even hear him enter the makeshift portable office.
I put my phone away before reaching for my coffee with a murmur of thanks.
"Well?" He wasn't letting it drop.
"I wasn't smiling at anything."
Harry raised his brow as he sipped the soda he brought in with him. "You were smiling at your phone like a twelve-year-old boy."
I scratched my nose and placed my coffee down. "Yeah, well, you gossip like a twelve-year-old girl," I deflected.
He let out a bark of laughter. "You setting up a booty call for later?"
My pride shouldn't have been offended by his comment. After all, it was well known amongst them that I liked to play the field. I've bailed mid-drinks with friends to see a woman, and they've seen me out with one or two in the wild. It just felt wrong to lump Maria into that list.
Instead of answering, I opened a drawer and grabbed an energy bar.
"Aww, boss, c'mon."
I glared at him. "Don't you have work to do?"
He sighed as he stood, shaking his head. "Fine. Keep your secrets. Tell Diane I said hi and thanks for those cookies she sent by yesterday."
A smile froze on my lips. "Will do. See ya."
My grin dropped when Harry turned back down the small steps, striding out of the trailer. I scrubbed a hand down my face.
Fuck.
Diane and Sarah had been bugging me to come over for dinner. I usually did so once a week, but lately, I'd been making excuses not to attend. Yes, work had been crazy, but not crazy enough that I couldn't make at least one meal.
Guilt kept me away.
I couldn't say that I was falling for Maria yet, but I knew if our dates continued down the path they were taking, I could easily see it happening. I couldn't imagine loving someone as much as Hannah, and I probably never would, but something about Maria made me see the future I envisioned slowly revealing itself again. The future that I thought would happen with Hannah.
I couldn't look Sarah and Diane in the eye, knowing I was courting another woman as a possible girlfriend. Not a fuck buddy or someone I had an understanding with...but a potential exclusive partner. Admitting that to them meant we were entering a new phase in my life, not only with myself but the two people I considered family. I was still figuring out how to navigate it, and until I knew where things were going with Maria, there wasn't a need to tell Sarah and Diane. I didn't know why I felt like I was doing something wrong, especially when things with Maria felt so...right. So effortless and familiar.
Maria was a complex creature. Completely different from the women I usually gravitated towards. She wasn't all sweet and gushy. She was flirty and bold yet aloof at the same time. She didn't play games or constantly check in with me—even though one of my gripes was that she didn't reach out enough.
That day that I didn't hear from Maria for hours worried me more than I liked to admit. I was afraid she ghosted me again. When she called later that night, I had to palm my growing erection as her sleepy voice filled my head.
The more I thought about Maria, the more I missed her. She mystified and upturned my orderly life, yet I'd never been more enchanted. I pulled up our text thread and thumbed through it. I hadn't seen her since our date, and our phone conversations were no longer cutting it for me. Our date was this Saturday, but I didn't care. I needed to see her. So, instead of calling Diane like I should have, I grabbed my jacket and locked up the office.
When I strolled into Maria's salon, the same receptionist was seated at the front desk. I belatedly wondered if she recognized me.
Hi," she cheerfully greeted.
Her smile froze and her brow furrowed slightly before clearing. Her eyes flickered down me quickly before she met my stare again. Her smile remained fixed, but her eyes twinkled in amusement.
Yeah, she recognized me.
"Do you have an appointment, or are you waiting for someone?"
Was she mocking me?
I kept eye contact with her, refusing to feel shame. "I was wondering if Maria was in?"
Her smile widened. "Maria? Yes, I think she's in. Whom shall I say is enquiring?"
I had the distinct feeling she knew exactly who I was.
"Brian. I'm a-a-friend."
Her mouth quirked as she rose from her seat.
"Follow me," she drawled.
She walked across the floor towards a door at the back. Heads turned to trace my movements, and I swore I caught a few knowing smirks from some of the staff. Instead of feeling self-conscious, my chest swelled in pleasure. Maria obviously disclosed who I was to her colleagues, and given their not-so-subtle reaction to me, I took it to mean that whatever she told them was in my favor.
"Knock, knock," the bubbly receptionist announced as she opened the door.
My heart calmed when the object of my thoughts was revealed to me. There she was.
Maria turned her attention from typing, a welcoming smile already forming on her face.
"Hey, Rach, what's u…" Her voice petered out when she spied me lurking. Suprise lightened her eyes. And was that a spark of pleasure?
"Brian!" Maria exclaimed.
She stood, her hands smoothing down her thighs before she touched her hair. "What are you doing here?" I couldn't tell by her tone whether she was happy to see me.
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd pop in to see you," I lied.
Maria touched her hair again before glancing at her computer screen and then back to me.
"Oh," was all she said. Awkwardness seeped into the air.
The receptionist's head volleyed between us before Maria cleared her throat.
"Thanks, Rach," Maria acknowledged, her eyes never leaving mine.
Rach's face fell. "Okay," she whined. She made to turn before she swiveled back to me. "Oh, and thank you for the muffins, Brian." And with a cheeky wink, she flounced off.
Maria's mouth twitched in shared amusement. She gestured me in, and I closed the door before moving closer. The room smelled like her; sweet and floral.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I didn't really think this through. I was in the area, and I…" couldn't wait until Saturday to see you, so I made up a reason to leave for lunch so I could detour to the other side of town to see you "...thought I'd stop in to see if you're free for lunch."
"No, yeah. That's so sweet." Maria rubbed her hands down her thighs again before glancing at her computer screen. "Uh..."
Shit.
"Sorry, I should've called first. You're probably busy."
Her beautiful face twisted in apology. "Yeah, I am."
My body deflated.
"But," she sat back down and sent me a hopeful smile. "I was planning on ordering in. You wanna join me? As long as you don't mind me doing some typing while we eat."
A wide smile lit my face. "Yeah, of course, I don't mind. Tell me what you want, and I'll get it."
After picking up a couple of sandwiches, a soda for me, and something called Bubble Tea for Maria, I hurried back. I ignored the knowing smirks from her colleagues on the floor as I swept past them in my haste to return to her. Maria cleared her desk, and we laid our food on the wrappers.
"I have to say, I'm impressed with your salon. I can't say I've been in too many, but I like what you've done with the space."
Maria shot me a shy smile as she sipped her milky tea. She moved the computer mouse around her screen, clicking at random. I watched a few dark, small spheres shoot up her straw and wondered how she didn't choke.
"Thanks. It took a lot of sweat, tears, and money, but I'm super proud of it."
On our first date, Maria chatted about her first job sweeping floors of a hairdresser's shop at sixteen. She then progressed to a receptionist before starting an apprenticeship with a head stylist. Her job paid partial costs of her courses since it benefited them to keep her on and receive practical training. The rest was pure grit and a lot of sacrifices.
The more I learned about her, the more my respect and admiration deepened. Even more so since it was my understanding that most of her success was achieved on her own. On our first date, she casually mentioned that her mom hadn't been in her life for years. She didn't offer any more details, and I had the distinct impression it was a sore subject for her, as I would expect when you're estranged from a parent.
"I've always wanted to own my own business," she continued. "I've never been good at taking orders, and I like relying on myself for my own success."
I chewed as I regarded her words. "The master of your destiny?"
Her head bobbed. "Yeah. I've been working for a long time. I've had employers skip out on paying me, take advantage of me, or not pay me for the skill level I deserve. I promised myself I'd never be in a position where I'm at someone else's mercy."
I wasn't surprised by her answer. I was quickly learning that Maria was fiercely independent and headstrong. Qualities that might seem off-putting to some guys, but for me it enhanced her overall appeal.
"I get that," I slowly nodded. "Being self-employed can be tiring and hard work at times. But the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. For example, I get to squeeze in a second date with you during my work hours, and I won't get in trouble for it," I teased.
Maria picked off a piece of bread, her red lips fighting a smile. "Second date, huh?"
"Yep. We're having a meal in an intimate setting. Definitely a second date."
She sent me a coy look from beneath long lashes. "Well, I was thinking that Da Vinci's Grove was more of a third-date kinda deal," she quipped.
I threw my head back and laughed. "Another perk of being a boss—I can afford to take you to a place like that."
Maria giggled, locking eyes with me. Noise seemed to fade as we grinned at each other like fools. She looked so goddamn beautiful in a long-sleeved white silk blouse, tight black pants, and some sexy black heels. I had to tear my eyes away when I started envisioning her ass on her desk, her legs wrapped around my waist with those heels digging into my back.
That brief yet scorching kiss we shared did nothing to sate my appetite. In fact, it whet it more knowing that the chemistry between us would implode in bed if I were lucky enough to get that far with her.
Given the soft crimson stain on her cheeks, Maria must've sensed where my thoughts were. She bent her head, her dark silky locks falling around her stunning features, hiding her true reaction.
"So what's your staff like?"
A look of relief passed her face at my abrupt change of subject. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable with my leering and the way my thoughts were pivoting, I too needed a reprieve.
She launched into a detailed rundown of her employees. Hearing her talk about them, I could tell there was a mutual liking and respect. It was evident in the teasing looks they gave me, the comfortable way Rach entered her office, and the warmth that Maria greeted her with.
I ended up telling her about my embarrassing incident of showing up to her salon only to chicken out. I was pretty confident that Rach recognized me as the doofus who couldn't leave fast enough. Better the story came from my point of view than her unflattering angle. Maria almost snorted her drink out her nose, her delighted laugh warming my soul. As we chatted and laughed with each other, I marveled again at how seamless it all felt with her.
"Can I ask you something?" Maria softly asked as she leaned back in her chair. Our lunch was organically coming to an end, and we were starting to pack up slowly.
"Of course," I invited as I scooped the crumbs from my sandwich back into my wrapper.
Maria bobbed the large straw in her drink up and down as she regarded me with wary eyes. "Tell me to mind my own business if you want, but...your wife..."
My body tensed as she trailed off. I cleared my throat and swallowed down the lump that was forming.
"Hannah." My voice sounded low and guttural to my ears. I cleared my throat again.
"Right." She stopped playing with her straw and placed her almost empty cup on her desk. "Can I ask how long ago did she pass?"
My stomach clenched in discomfort. I was used to the morbid curiosity that came with my widower status. Mainly from women who gazed at me with soft, glassy eyes, their fingers grasping my bicep in pronounced sympathy. I always drew their attention away from the subject. I was protective of Hannah and our relationship and didn't want to soil her memory by sharing too much of her with women I only saw as bed warmers.
I didn't place Maria in the same category as the women who came after Hannah, yet I still wasn't comfortable discussing my late wife with her. Something in my outer consciousness knew that the moment I disclosed that part of myself to her, meant I was truly moving on. It wasn't a step I felt ready to take yet.
"Four years."
Her mouth turned down in sympathy. "Have you dated anyone else since then?" she softly asked.
I squirmed in my seat, my gaze dropping from hers. "A little bit. But nothing that stuck."
I wanted to be honest with Maria, but I also didn't want her running for the hills if she knew that "a little bit" was grossly understated.
"Sorry, I can see you're not comfortable talking about it. I guess I was just...curious." She gave me an apologetic smile. "Sorry if I was pushing."
"No, no, it's fine. One day, we can talk about it."
I was surprised at how sincere those words felt. I already touched briefly about losing my parents and how Hannah's family had embraced me as a son. Maria didn't push me for more details, just as I could sense that her mom was a sensitive subject for her. She listened and watched me with expressive interest as if she understood by her own trauma and grief. I appreciated that more than prolonged sympathetic touches and feigned questions meant to illicit private information I didn't feel comfortable giving.
Maria just listened and allowed me to disclose what I felt comfortable with. Even though I wasn't ready to open up about Hannah, I was pleased she was curious about my life. Our connection would only deepen in time; I could feel it.
"Anyway, I better get back to work." I stood, and Maria did, too.
"Of course.” She came around the desk, striding to the door with those sexy, long legs. I couldn't help my gaze falling naturally to her high ass. She opened the door and sent me a soft smile.
"Thank you for lunch."
I paused at the door, my steps heavy from having to leave. She peered up at me, her piercing blue eyes hitting me in the chest. I knew Maria's colleagues were probably chomping at the bit to question her, so I didn't want to fuel the gossip train despite wanting to kiss her again. Instead, I reached out and stroked her soft cheek before tucking a curtain of hair behind her ear in a farewell gesture.
That whole day, I had a smile on my face. To the point where my boys told me I was creeping them out. I took their ribbing with a laugh, not letting their suggestive comments about taking a prolonged lunch unravel me.
It didn't even phase me when I had to stay back an extra hour and a half when one of the boys forgot to run a pipe under a baseboard. Water off a duck's back with the mood I was in.
I pulled up to my house, exhausted but happy. I climbed out of my car, whistling a nonsensical tune. The melody died quickly on my lips.
Sarah was on my doorstep.
Crying.